2020 Subject Information

Primary 5

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Department InitiativesNICE Programme

Literature-based Unit

P5 & P6 NICE Programme

NICE Programme (Newspaper is Interesting, Cool & Enriching)

- articles from Straits Times, IN pull-out section

Objectives of the NICE programme are to:

• inculcate in students the love for newspaper reading

• develop in students an interest for current affairs and developglobal and cultural awareness

• help students acquire new vocabulary weekly and acquire afamiliarity with formal writing

• foster critical thinking through reflection using the ACTSThinking Tool

• strengthen students’ ability to communicate effectively asthey develop their voice and articulate their thoughts

• create opportunities for bonding over discussions of currentaffairs at home

P5 Literature-based Unit

Book Title : Around the World in 80 Days

The P5 Literature-based unit seeks to:

• enrich students’ literary appreciation and language learning through literature study

• make connections between self, text and the world through critical analysis of the text using ACTS Thinking Tool

• infuse the joy of learning as they ‘travel’ alongside the main characters to different countries

Jean Passepartout, newly employed French valet, all packed to circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a 20,000 pound wager at 8.45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2,

1872.

How to support your child’s learning?• Use standard English as much as possible in your

interactions with your child. This will go a long way in helping your child gain competence and grow in confidence in oral communication. A starting point could be the IN subscriptions as an extension of classroom activities.

• Encourage your child to read widely and be selective in the choice of reading materials. NLB and the school library has a good spread of age-appropriate books. Make reading a habit and your child will stand to gain from it immeasurably. Read together with your child if you can. Nothing beats role modelling to get your child going!

Mother Tongue Languages (MTL)

Primary 5 and 6 Mother Tongue Languages Key Programmes

Newspaper in Education

The “Newspapers in Education” initiative incorporated into the teaching and learning of Mother Tongue serves to raise students’ awareness of both local and international current affairs, broaden their outlook, enrich their thinking and encourage them to form opinions.

Guided by the school’s ACTS Thinking Tool (Ask a Question, Challenge an Idea, Think further, Speak up), which aims to foster critical thinking, teachers facilitate in-depth class discussions that enable students to gain general knowledge, examine real-world dilemmas critically and empathetically, and articulate their thoughts in Mother Tongue.

A Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) component is also included which guides students to understand their global surroundings and analyse and perceive events from different perspectives based on our six core values, Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Integrity, Care and Harmony.

Mother Tongue Languages Fortnight

• A range of activities (Cultural aspects) for the students to experience and enjoy during the week-long event.

• Through this event, we hope to create an immersive environment for the fun learning of our Mother Tongue Languages amongst our students. Various cultural activities have been planned for the different levels, involving mass participation. We hope that this will enhance the learning experience of each Hildan to actively use their Mother Tongue as well as experience its rich culture.

Information on MTL

Learning Resources

Chinese Language

• ICT Resources （欢乐伙伴 Huan Le Huo Ban）

https://www.mtl.moe.edu.sg

A website to access the ICT resources used in the teaching and

learning of Chinese Language in school.

• Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning

http://www.cpcll.sg/

A website that contains information about the various events and

programmes organized by the community to support children in the

learning of Chinese Language outside schools.

Malay Language

• Portal e-Cekap

https://www.mtl.moe.edu.sg/

Website that contains various teaching resources in Malay language. Interesting

digital games are available at the website.

• Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee

http://www.mllpc.sg/

Website that shares various suggested activities to encourage use of Malay language. Interesting interactive games are available for primary school pupils.

Tamil Language

• Sangamam

https://www.mtl.moe.edu.sg

A website to access the ICT resources used in the teaching and learning of Tamil Language in school.

• Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee

https://www.tamil.org.sg/en

A website that contains information about the various events and programmes organized by the community to support children in the learning of Tamil Language outside schools.

How to support your child’s learning?

• Create an environment that supports your child’s learning of MTL

• Be the MOTIVATOR, ROLE MODEL and FACILITATOR in your child’s learning journey

Mathematics Department

Math Key Instructional StrategyThe Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (C-P-A) sequence is the key instructional strategy for the development of primary mathematics concepts in Singapore(MOE, 2007, 2012).

This strategy was developed by American psychologist Jerome Bruner in the 1960s. It enables students to uncover abstract mathematical concepts by constructing meanings and understandings (MOE, 2012)

Concrete stage –

the stage of

learning where

students work only

with the

manipulatives so as

to understand a

mathematical

concept. Symbols

are absent during

this stage.

Pictorial stage – the stage where students

use pictures in the same manner as

manipulatives. The manipulatives may or may

not be present. It is also the stage where

students may watch the manipulation of

manipulatives instead of doing it themselves.

Abstract stage – the stage

where there is no

manipulative or pictorial

help but symbols are used

instead. Students

manipulate the symbols

using the math concepts

learned from the previous

stages.

Schultz, 1986; Sowel, 1989; Keller, 1993

Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract Approach in teaching

Mathematics

• Students enjoy the learning of Mathematics through fun, engaging and meaningful hands-on activities which are aligned with the Playscapephilosophy, nurturing joy of learning play.

• This Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract (CPA) is a highly effective approach to teaching that develops a deep and sustainable understanding of Mathematics in students.

Playscape Activities

P3 to P6 MODEL ELICITING APPROACH

The Model Eliciting Approach (MEA) is a process of formulating and improving a mathematical model to represent and solve real-world problems. Students apply mathematical problem-solving and reasoning skills to tackle a variety of problems, including open-ended and real-world problems.

P3: Potato Chip ActivityP4: Correction Tape ActivityP5: Handphone ActivityP6: Choice of Secondary Schools Activity

P5 MEA : Handphone Problem

Your current handphone is a basic model and can

neither go online nor has the touchscreen capability.

You are looking forward to buying a new handphone.

You go shopping with your parents and see the latest

model handphone in a telco shop.

$300

Just when I needed a

new handphone!!

Making Thinking Visible -P5 Reasoning Package using SLS

• To focus on visible thinking.• To develop important 21st century competencies

such as collaborative and communicative skillsthrough the new features of visible thinking routine in SLS.

• To keep the discussions focused on the evidence and how it supports or highlight student misconceptions and disagreements.

• To promote active thinking and deep learning. • To encourage students to think independently.

How can your children optimise their learning in mathematics?• Revise math concepts regularly and reflect on the connections among the

concepts;

• Avoid reliance on calculators and acquire good time management skills;

• Cultivate good habits such as striving for accuracy, diligently taking down notes during lessons and filing worksheets neatly;

• Be confident in using mathematics to solve problem, to communicate ideas and to reason;

• Persevere in Mathematical tasks;

• Engage actively in asking questions and offering solutions;

• Be open in exploring new ideas and trying alternative methods in solving problems;

• Do not be afraid to make mistakes, but learn from mistakes.

23

“The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake –you can’t learn from being perfect.”

Adam Osborne

Science Department

INQUIRY APPROACH5E MODEL OF INSTRUCTION FOR SCIENCE

SCIENCE FOCUS FOR 2020

- Deepening Inquiry Based Approach to teach Science.

- Engaging programmes for pupils to create their own products based on concepts that they have learnt.

- Inculcate the love of science in our students and ignite the curiosity in them through programmes like Science Alive.

- Aspire to Inspire for knowledge creation and be daring to try out different pedagogies for learner-centeredness.

ENGAGE - Activities to engage students and activate prior knowledge

- Use of discrepant events toactivate learning

- Usage of visible thinking routineseg See Think to activate priorknowledge

- Usage of Challenge to engagelearnning

EXPLORE – Use of Science Modelling to reinforce concepts

Students engage in scientific modelling to notice patterns

and develop and revise representations that become useful

models to help them predict and explain thus making their

own scientific knowledge stronger, helping them to think

critically, and helping them know more about the nature

of science.

Innovative Models were created by students to demonstrate the workings of the human respiratory system.

Application of concepts-Illustration of process of water cycle using modelling

EXPLORE – Use of Science Modelling to reinforce concepts

Elaborate - Design Challenges Incorporated into the Curriculum

- To deepen and extend student’s learning,

opportunities are created for students to take part in

design challenges.

- Through the challenges, students can apply their

knowledge towards new situations like making motor

cars and motor boats using Recycled Materials for the

topic on Electricity.

Elaborate - Fostering innovation and creative thinking though play

- To inject fun and create more

experiential learning experiences

are also conducted in the Playscape.

- The space provides students the

opportunity to learn alternative

ways of approaching learning or

utilizing new tools and resources to

reach a solution. These skills are

fundamental to and enhanced by

the learning experiences in a

makerspace.

Tinkering and Problem Solving (Blinking Light)- P5 Electricity

Elaborate and Evaluate- Using ICT to deepen understanding

• Students will have access to a technology-focused educational experience through the useof augmented reality programs and apps thatprovide access to more in-depth informationthrough the use of mobile devices in theteaching of human systems.

• Hands-on exploration is also possible with AR,as students can manipulate and engage with theimages they see through the device’s camerathus offering benefits such as visual memoryand improved concept absorption.

• SLS also provides students with rich contentonline which also enables them to learn fromone another.

P5 SCIENCE SYLLABUSTerm 1 Term 2

Textbk : Cycles

Unit 3: Water and Changes of State

Unit 4: The Water Cycle

Textbk : Cycles

Unit 2: Reproduction in Humans

Textbk : Systems

Unit 2 : Air and the Respiratory System

Unit 3: The Circulatory System

Unit 4 : Plant Transport System

Term 3 Term 4

Textbk : Systems

Unit 5: Electrical SystemUnit 6: Using Electricity

Textbk : EnergyUnit 1: Energy in Food

Textbk : Cycles

Unit 1: Reproduction in Plants

Textbk : Interaction

Unit 3: Food Chain and Food Web

- Ensure that your child complete all the school

based science homework

- Subscribe to Science Magazines

- Question your child on his/her understanding

to instil an inquisitive mind

- Use mind maps to draw out what they had

learnt.

- Allow them to try out safe experiments at

home

- File worksheets properly to facilitate revision

How to better support your child in the learning of Science